When and how to stop palliative antineoplastic treatment and to organise palliative care for patients with incurable cancer.

Abstract

Improving the organisational aspects of the delivery of palliative care in order to support patients throughout their disease trajectory has received limited attention. To investigate the opportunities and barriers related to organising palliation for people with terminal cancer and their families. An explorative interview study was conducted among 31 nurses and three physicians concerning an intervention facilitating a fast transition from treatment at a cancer centre at a university hospital to palliation at home. A thematic analysis was conducted. This article presents three out of seven themes: 1) improvement in the cessation of antineoplastic treatment in palliation; 2) improvement in organisations delivering palliation; and 3) improvement in multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration. The results demonstrate the demand for flexible, family-centred and integrated palliation at all levels, from communication and the collaborative relationship between healthcare professionals and families to service sectors.